“This year we have a target to produce 6.55 MT ore. It will be gradually increased to 10 MT in the next financial year,” Girish said after chief secretary AP Padhy reviewed the functioning and status of all the leased mines of OMC at the secretariat here.

Plans are afoot to increase the production at its key iron ore mines – Kurmita and Gandhamardan – in a mechanized format, the OMC official stated.

Official sources said to boost production, OMC has decided to go for a new 1000 tonnes per hour (TPH) ore handling plant along with 3200 TPH mechanised wagon loading system, besides related railway infrastructure.

“Proposals have been drafted to increase production at Kurmita and Gandhamardan mines through mechanized mining and it will be implemented soon,” the official stated adding forest and other statutory clearances are in different stages of progress.